Daily Health Tips: Fibroid In Pregnancy.

Posted on February 20, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Morning Doctor. I am in terrible pains as I write this. I am 12weeks pregnant and I have been having this deep and penetrating pain in my Pelvic region. I was at the hospital and was sent for a Scan, it showed that I have Anterior Fibroid, the Lady who attended to me say there is not much that can be done since I am pregnant and I should take paracetamol. This has not changed anything at all. I can’t sleep properly due to the persistent pain. Now my question is this, will this pain or growth affect my baby? I have waited so long for it that I can’t afford for anything to go wrong. Secondly, will I have to be with this pain considering I still have a long way to go? The girl was in such a hurry to dismiss me I was not satisfied with it. Please this is urgent doctor. This pain is unbearable. Thanks a lot.

A: Hello dear, I’m really sorry that you have to go through this. Some women find out for the first time that they have fibroids when they get pregnant. Most of them cause no problems during pregnancy. However, some of them may cat up.

Indeed, fibroids during pregnancy are managed conservatively…that is they are not managed aggressively. It’s kind of a wait and see approach. What you appear to be going through is called red degeneration in which the fibroid outgrows its blood supply causing it to turn red and die. This leads to intense abdominal pains and contractions. I would have expected more empathy from the medical personnel (I assume) who saw you. Please be sure that you are seeing an obstetrician who will help you during this pregnancy. Many patients with fibroids in pregnancy have normal pregnancies and deliveries.

Will this pain last forever? Usually it occurs around 12 to 22 weeks of pregnancy and bed rest for a couple of days coupled with pain killers should do the trick. Judicious fluid intake is also advised. Your obstetrician may give you another analgesic (NSAID). Please discuss with him. And don’t worry…this too, shall pass 🙂

For more on fibroids, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/05/29/daily-health-tips-are-there-other-treatment-methods-for-fibroids-other-than-surgery/

Daily Health Tips: Should I Stop Taking Folic Acid Because I Have Fibroids In Pregnancy?

Have a good night, sweetheart…and feel better soon 🙂

Lots of hugs coming your way.

Good night, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Should I Marry My Boyfriend Who I Just Realized Is HIV Positive?

Posted on February 19, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q1: Good morning Dr Ketch. Please help me. I have this friend who I have dated for about a year now and we love each other very much. He proposed to me and then I found out that he’s HIV positive. I don’t know what to do and I don’t want him to think that I am leaving him because of his health status. Please, is there any possibility of us getting married and having children that are HIV free and me not getting infected as well? Please, help me because I love him so much.

Q2: Is it Possible for an HIV+ person to meet someone who is of same status with him/ her? Is there any forum where such persons meet? Thanks a lot.

A: These are two different questions from two different people. We’ll start with the first.

There are many considerations that go into deciding who you will marry. Pity is not one of them! I hope that your decision to go ahead to marry this gentleman is born out of love (and other needful considerations for marriage) and not ‘what people will say’.

Now, if we are clear and love is the over-riding reason, then, yes, you can have children who are not HIV positive and yes, it is possible for you not to get infected. It takes some work and extreme care but it can be done.

There are procedures like sperm washing and invitro fertilization when both of you are ready for babies. In the meantime, protection using condoms is the way to go. If there is accidental exposure to the virus during sexual intercourse, please use Post Exposure Prophylaxis…these are drugs usually used to treat HIV. They are taken daily for 4 weeks to reduce risk of infection.

Another option is taking a tablet daily as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. These tablets are also drugs used for treating HIV. Please note that even if this is being done, the use of condom should not be abandoned.

For more on this, please click on the links https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/08/26/daily-health-tips-is-it-risky-to-marry-my-hiv-positive-fiancee-when-im-hiv-negative/

Daily Health Tips: Can My HIV Positive Pregnant Friend Have A Baby Without Problems?

Daily Health Tips: How Can I Prevent My Unborn Baby From Becoming Infected With HIV?

Daily Health Tips: Can I Get HIV From Oral Sex?

Is there a forum where HIV positive people meet? Well, in every city there are co-ordinators of People Living With HIV/AIDS. They would usually organize events and activities where people are free to socialize and interact. Where exactly do you live? In Nigeria, this website may be helpful to know different coordinators, contacts and perhaps, meeting times http://www.nephwan.net
 

I hope this was helpful.

Have a great night, people 😀

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This Week, On The Dr Ketch Show

Posted on February 19, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Today on the Dr Ketch Show, we explore bad breath.

How come people with bad breath have no idea that their breaths stink? 😦 How can you check whether you have bad breath before someone tells you? Are there foods in your kitchen that can help you fight bad breath? Our show today, explores all these.

Then, I have a chat with an award-winning Nollywood star who shares with us the secret to keeping that smile super sweet and breath ultra-fresh…I mean that breath just has to be fresh, what with all the close-up 😉 scenes, I’ve seen this person in 😀

Guess our celebrity!

Catch the show on Africa Magic Showcase channel 151 by:
6.30pm and 11pm today
11am and 9pm on Friday
4pm on Saturday
7pm on Sunday

Have a fabulous day, people 😀

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Daily Health Tips: How Come My 4-Year Old Baby With Sickle Cell Anaemia Has Never Had A Bone Pain Crisis?

Posted on February 18, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good morning Dr. Ketch. I have a son who is genotype SS but had never had any painful crisis before neither has he been transfused before. Is it possible to be genotype SS and still not have painful crisis or low PCV? My son is 4 years old.

A: Wow! That’s awesome! Your son falls into a minority of people with Sickle Cell Anaemia who rarely or never have a crisis. Others may have more frequent crises annually and others just a few incidents throughout their lives.

To help encourage this state of ‘no-crisis’, ensure that your baby stays free from infections. He should get all the vaccinations due at every age. Teach him to wash his hands often and avoid other people’s germs. For more tips on this, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/04/15/back-to-school-tool-kit/

A good diet, ensuring your baby takes sufficient fluids daily, vitamin supplementation, keeping your baby warm and dry etc would also help. Watch out for your baby and ensure he does not over-exert himself when playing. Be sure to see your baby’s doctor at regular intervals too.

For more on Sickle Cell Anaemia, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/08/20/daily-health-tips-how-can-i-help-my-fiancee-she-has-ss-genotype-and-i-have-aa-genotype/

Have a great night, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Lactose Intolerance

Posted on February 17, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hello doc, I just watched your programme about how healthy milk is for children. I have a concern because when my son was about a year plus, I started noticing some irritations on his skin which made him itch. We went to his paediatrician who said it is some kind of allergic reaction that we should watch whatever aggravates the irritation especially proteins. I then noticed he becomes more irritated when he takes milk and by the way he loves milk. we were told to switch to soy milk which he tolerates well. Recently, he started having sore eyes with sticky discharge in the morning, We took him to the eye clinic and was told it is allergic conjunctivitis and he is on treatment. My concern now is how exactly do we manage it and does it mean he won’t be able to take full cream milk?

A: Interesting question. We’ll start with lactose intolerance, which appears to be what your baby has. Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk. People with lactose intolerance can’t digest lactose, which is the natural sugar found in milk. This is because they lack an enzyme called lactase. Some people with lactose intolerance cannot digest any milk or milk product at all, others are able to digest small amounts of milk and milk products.

Lactose intolerance occurs more commonly in adults and in the African, Asian and South American races. It appears to run in families. So, a positive family history means one has a higher risk of developing this. Lactose intolerance usually occurs during the teenage or adult years but some of these people are able to take some milk or milk products. Severity of symptoms depends on the degree of lactase deficiency and the amount of lactose in the person’s diet. Some cases of lactose intolerance can develop after diseases of the small intestine, as a result of ageing or even after stomach surgery. It could be permanent or temporary.

Some children are born with lactose intolerance and thus cannot tolerate any food that contains lactose. This includes milk and all milk products. Some pre-mature babies have lactose intolerance just because their bodies cannot make the enzyme needed to breakdown lactose yet. This is temporary though. As soon as the body starts making lactase, then the problem disappears.

The symptoms of lactose intolerance typically include bloating, gas, diarrhea and tummy ache when you’ve had excessive amounts of milk. Anyone with this condition can reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance by trying the following:

 Try staying off dairy for a day and see if your symptoms decrease. . If the symptoms reduce, then gradually add back some dairy products and see if your symptoms start up again.
• Reducing the amount of dairy you take at any one time. Eg take a small amount of milk and sip slowly.
• Try out different dairy products and see what works for you. There are varying amounts of lactose in different dairy foods. Quite a number of people with lactose intolerance are able to tolerate yoghurt with live cultures. You could try different things and see what works for you.
• Taking lactase tablets prescribed by your doctor to help digest your dairy products. These are usually taken before you take the lactose. This may help but is not useful in all cases.
• Try taking milk with other foods as this may slow down the digestive process, changes the way the body absorbs it and ultimately produce less symptoms.

This can also be done with your baby just to see if he can tolerate any milk at all. Remember that, just like you have done with your baby, ensure that your doctor is part of the solution. If your baby is doing well with Soya milk, then that’s great. You could try any of the tips above to see if he can tolerate regular milk. Don’t forget that after two years, your baby should really not be taking full cream milk but should be taking 1% or 2% milk or skimmed milk.
For tips on managing conjunctivitis, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/09/18/daily-health-tips-why-do-i-have-bloodshot-eyes/

I hope y’all had a good day 😉

The month is far spent and the year is gradually speeding by. Have you started work on your dream yet? Don’t let this year pass you by…

Have a great night, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Can I Breastfeed While Pregnant?

Posted on February 16, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Dr Ketch, thanks for being there always for those tips for healthy living. Please, is it safe to breastfeed while pregnant? And what fluids can be given to a 7-month old baby asides breast milk? Thanks

A: It’s generally considered safe to continue breastfeeding in pregnancy. In fact some mothers would even breastfeed the new baby and the older one, concurrently. This is called tandem nursing. However, given the requirements of breastfeeding and of pregnancy, this mum must ensure that she is eating healthy and drinking sufficient fluids.

If your already born baby can talk, he may comment on the fact that the taste of your breast milk has changed especially towards the end of pregnancy and a few days after the birth of the new baby as colostrum is produced.

For more posts on colostrums, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/05/27/daily-health-tips-what-should-i-do-after-having-my-baby-if-my-breast-milk-doesnt-come-in-immediately/

For the mum, she may notice more breast tenderness…sorry 😦 And also, milk production reduces as pregnancy progresses.

The process of letting down milk involves the release of a hormone called oxytocin. This hormone can also cause uterine contractions…which you absolutely do not want when you’re pregnant until it’s time for delivery. The good news is that the oxytocin released is not enough to cause significant contractions that can lead to a pre-term labour. However, people who already have a history of pre-term or premature contractions need to check with their doctors as nipple stimulation (either during sexual intercourse or breastfeeding may lead to pre-term contractions)

Your 7-month old baby can take water (of course). You can give him freshly squeezed fruit juices (this basically means you’re buying the fruits and squeezing out the juice yourself or blending up a smoothie). Remember that your baby must not have any cow milk until the baby turns 12 months…well, unless it’s in yoghurt (unsweetened, flavor-free yoghurt). You can add some bananas to the yogurt and blend it up.

For more on weaning and preparation of yoghurt, please click on these links: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/12/29/daily-health-tips-weaning-foods/

Daily Health Tips: Recipe For And Storage Of Yoghurt

Have a good night y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: What Is Bell’s Palsy?

Posted on February 15, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hi Doctor, thank you for your good works. I need your professional insight for my wife who suddenly developed a medical condition called Bell’s Palsy 3 days ago.

A: Bell’s palsy (BP) is a rare condition that makes one side, usually, of a person’s face droop or become ‘frozen’ in appearance due to paralysis of nerves on the person’s face (facial nerve). This leads to weakness or paralysis of the muscles on that side of the face. Bell’s palsy may be mistaken for a stroke (which would also cause drooping of one side of the face.). However, these are two different ailments. Strokes are due to vessels bursting or getting blocked and in Bell’s palsy, full recovery is usually expected after about 2 to 3 months.
It is thought that inflammation of the facial nerve as it passes through the skull to the brain, due to a viral infection like chicken pox the virus that causes cold sores, Herpes Simplex, may be the cause. These viruses, even after one has recovered from them, do not go completely and can be re-activated months and years later, leading to Bell’s palsy. Other causes include being hit on the face, pregnancy, Diabetes, a bad cold, ear infections etc.

This palsy can also affect the production of saliva and tears and also affect taste. Thus, symptoms include:
• Drooping of, usually, one side of the face
• Inability to close eye on that side of the face
• Inability to taste food
• Excessive tearing or dry eyes
• Difficulty with chewing food on that side
• Hearing sounds louder in one ear

Most cases of BP recover even without treatment. Your doctor may prescribe some steroids to help reduce the inflammation. Eye patches and eye drops to lubricate the eye will be needed. Frequent brushing of the teeth and flossing are essential giving problems with chewing food and production of saliva. This is to prevent tooth decay. Physiotherapy may also help retrain facial muscles.

Finally, showing her lots of love will also not go amiss as she tries to make sense of this ‘weird’ illness she has 😀 Let’s continue the Valentine season for a while longer…indeed, why not forever?! 😉

Have a great week ahead, people 😀

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Power Oil Saturday Challenge

Posted on February 14, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Please note that the answers to this challenge have to be submitted on our blog on this same post titled Power Oil Saturday Challenge
On our 5-minute show on Wednesday, the 11th of February, 2015 we discussed five things to know about your diet and your health.

“For a chance to win any of our prizes, answer the question below:
Mention 5 smart eating tips
The first person to answer correctly will win our star prize.

Terms and conditions:
Participants must be followers of our blog. If you’re not a follower, click on the linkhttp://www.chatwithdrketch.com and click on the follow button to qualify. The follow button is on the bottom right hand corner of the page and floats with the page.

Answers are based on our TV show as broadcast on Silverbird TV on Wednesday, 11th February, 2015.

The first correct answer is the winner of the 1st prize (a 3 litre bottle of Power oil, a Power oil apron, a Power oil T-shirt and pens)
The next 2 correct answers get a Power oil apron, a Power oil T-shirt and Power oil branded pens.

All winners will be entered into the grand finale challenge for this season happening next week. Mouth watering, exciting gifts!!!
(To qualify for the grand finale draw, all winners should send in pictures of themselves wearing their Power Oil aprons and cooking up a storm in the kitchen using Power Oil. The winners will be revealed on the 28th of February, 2015.)

Only one answer per participant will be accepted.

If a participant provides more than one answer, the first answer will be used.

Edited answers will be disqualified.

This challenge lapses by 11.59 pm on Tuesday, the 17th of February, 2015

So, what are you waiting for?! Best of luck, guys!

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Daily Health Tips: How Do You Treat Impetigo?

Posted on February 13, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening. Please Doctor, what is the cause and treatment for impetigo in infant (less than 3wks)?

A: Hallos! Now, I assume a doctor made the diagnosis of impetigo and hopefully has prescribed an ointment?
Now for those who don’t know, impetigo is a skin infection that appears as a red rash. It can break open and form yellowish brown crusts after it oozes fluid. It’s caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes and these organisms get into the body when there is a bruise, irritation or injury on the skin already. This is usually found around the diaper area in babies. Other places where they appear include hands, mouth and forearms.

It is important for the baby’s mum to know that impetigo is contagious and can spread through contact with infected skin or infected items of clothing. Scratching the infected area and touching other parts of the body can also lead to spread of the infection.
Treatment of impetigo is usually with an antibiotic ointment (like Bactroban) if it affects a small area of skin. If larger areas are involved, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.

To prevent the infection spreading during the healing process, be sure to cover the area with gauze and keep baby’s fingers short to prevent scratching and further spread of the infection.

Please make sure that you visit your baby’s paediatrician so he can confirm this diagnosis of impetigo, if he didn’t make it himself ab initio.

Have a great Valentine Weekend, y’all 😀

I love you guys to bits 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Does Semen Flow-Back After Sexual Intercourse Affect Fertility?

Posted on February 12, 2015 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good morning, Doctor. Please I have this problem with my partner such that whenever we have sex, after withdrawal the semen returns back and we have been trying to conceive. Please, what is responsible for this and what is the remedy? Thank you so much.

A: I’ve received this question in various forms from men and women alike and so it must mean that this is an important issue for a lot of people.

Lots of couples wishing to have a baby appear to believe that semen flowing out of the vagina signifies a problem and so, they do different things to stop this including, raising the female partner’s legs in the air or even performing a cycling motion. None of these need to be done, really.

A man’s ejaculate is made up of more than just sperm cells. The sperm count in ejaculate (which should be about half to 2 teaspoons in volume) is any number from 20million to several hundreds of millions! That’s a lot of sperm cells for 1 teaspoon, right? Now, when a man ejaculates, the initial force of that pushes some of the semen a significant way into the vagina. The rest of it flows back. In case you’re worried about the semen that flows back, just like the person who asked this question, the truth is that you don’t need more than 1 sperm cell to fertilize an egg.

Some sperm cells are retained at the back of the vagina, some make it all the way to the cervix and some others get into the uterus and make the trip into the fallopian tubes to fertilize an egg. And in addition, these sperm cells can remain alive and active for even up to 3 to 5 days after intercourse, depending on conditions. So, if there was no egg to fertilize at the time of intercourse, if the woman ovulates within this window of 3 to 5 days, she could still very well get pregnant.

Now, if you have been trying for up to one year to have a baby with no luck, please see your doctor and let him evaluate you and your partner. Analysis of the semen with sperm count etc will be helpful in defining course of treatment.

For more on this, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/12/14/daily-health-tips-miscarriage-and-infertility-re-visited/

I hope y’all had a great day? Have an extra special night 😀

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